The unmarked grave stood on top of the grassy hill by the church. Leorio approached the grave, which was marked in his mind, a blue zinnia flower in hand. Kurapika was a strong, silent presence by his side, accompanying him for support. Leorio squatted down and placed the flower in front of the grave. In his peripheral vision, he could see Kurapika kneel beside him.
The memories came rushing back. The night he spent here, digging his friend's grave, the bleeding calluses on his hands nothing compared to the devastation he felt. The day Pietro died in his arms, going still after suffering from a horrendous seizure. He had been so pale, so light, so cold. Leorio shook, knowing damn well that this could've been prevented, that his friend could've been saved.
There were so many opportunities, the trip to the doctor's office being one of them. That damn bastard. He knew that Pietro was suffering from a brain tumor. He knew that he needed surgery. He was the one who said that he needed surgery to begin with! Leorio had insisted and insisted on getting him the surgery, screaming at the doctor, who outright denied Pietro the treatment that he desperately needed, even having the gall to have them escorted out of the building by security. Humanity didn't speak to that bastard. Money did. This disgusted Leorio. It was a disgusting truth, but a truth nonetheless.
Leorio dug his fingers into the grass, the dirt getting underneath his fingernails. "This isn't right," he growled. "He shouldn't be here. He should be alive and kicking, not buried here. He could've been saved, you know. I saw the signs. I saw that he wasn't in good shape. He complained about having headaches all the time. Blurred vision, loss of balance, confusion, seizures…If I had been a doctor, I would've performed the damn surgery myself." Tears emerged from his eyes, running down his face. "I wish that I could have."
Kurapika leaned his head against Leorio's arm. "He was really fortunate to have a friend like you."
The kindness of such a comment caused Leorio to burst out crying. Kurapika had found the silver lining among his clouds. He was able to see the truth behind his words. He was able to see his pain, his guilt, his helplessness, and he took to healing that part of him, which he left neglected and hurting for so long, a wound that he left festering inside of him.
Leorio threw his arms around Kurapika and brought his small yet strong body close, crying so hard that his nose dripped a gross amount of discharge. Kurapika returned his embrace, putting his head against his chest, as if listening to his heart mend.
Leorio laughed as a thought came to him. "I think that he would've given us his seal of approval."
"That's good to hear," Kurapika replied, gently.
They stayed like that until Leorio calmed down. He pulled back to wipe at his eyes and nose with the sleeve of his navy blazer. All the while Kurapika held his hand, the very picture of empathy. He knew the devastation that came with losing those close to him.
They rose to their feet, and Kurapika regarded him with worry. Leorio took his face with his hands and leaned down to deliver an ardent kiss to his lips. "Thank you for coming," he smiled. "I really appreciate it, Kurapika."
"Of course," Kurapika said, his voice low and affectionate.
For the fourth time, Leorio walked away from Pietro's grave, but this time, he left feeling much lighter than before.